The Utility of a Psycho-Social Approach for Understanding and Addressing Male Youth Violence: The Interface between Traumatic Experiences and Masculinity

Abstract

The long-term relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) such as exposure to violence in the home and in the community, healthharming behaviors, poor physical and mental health outcomes, and ultimately, early mortality was first documented by Felitti et al. (1998) in their seminal study with more 8,000 people in the United States. However, it is clear that not all people experience the same types of adversity (Grasso, Dierkhishing, Branson, Ford, & Lee, 2015) and even when they do, the behavioral outcomes vary considerably (Cecila, Viding, Fearon, Glaser, & McCrory, 2017). Exposure to extra-familial violence and subsequent violent offending appears to be particularly gendered (McNaughton-Ryes, Foshee, Chen, & Ennett, 2018; Vaswani, 2018). Since the original investigation, later epidemiological studies, such as those in the UK have confirmed thedeleterious and doseresponse effects of adversity during childhood on later offending behaviors, with those exposed to multiple adversities and violent trauma, significantly more likely to engage in violence (Bellis, Hughes, Leckenby, Perkins, & Lowey, 2014). Violence may be a significant social problem with both social and economic costs (Walsh, 2018) but however pervasive (Krauss, 2006), it is not a new phenomenon. Records suggest that observers were keen to understand the mechanics of intentional aggressive behavior as far back as the time of the ABSTRACT Violent offending is a key concern to criminologists, but current paradigms have not fully explained why some people are violent and others are not. Despite the fact that between 80% and 98% of all violent-related crimes are perpetrated by males, few studies have convincingly examined why this is the case. Violence is traumatic and is one of the most commonly experienced traumas internationally. Violence is the leading cause of death for young men ages under 24 globally, and in addition to fatalities, there are 10 times more violence-related injuries. In the UK, 78% of perpetrators of violent crime are male, and the vast majority of victims are male. Two things appear clear: violence is pervasive and is the most common trauma experienced by boys and young men. This article seeks to highlight the need for both a trauma-informed approach as well as a gender-conscious approach in the discourse around violence prevention research, policy, and practice.

A novel approach for understanding trauma-related youth violence in low resource contexts: A retrospective case file review in Northern Ireland

“…These findings complement those from previous studies (e.g. Milaniak and Widom, 2015) that have suggested that broad measures against adversity, specifically those limited to the family environment, reduce the understanding of causal factors that contribute to violent offending and the socio-emotional pathways that link trauma to violence (Walsh, 2020b). Similar associations have been found in previous studies (e.g.…”

A ticking time bomb of future harm: Lockdown, child abuse and future violence

“…However, exposure to more frequent and intense adverse and traumatic experiences during early life is likely to negatively impact upon mental health (Cecil et al, 2017). A considerable body of evidence now indicates that there is a possible mediated association between early trauma, specifically violent victimisation, and violence perpetration later in life, particularly amongst males (Ellis, 2016;Ellis et al, 2017;Walsh, 2020;Winlow, 2014).…”

“…Similarly, De-Zulueta (2006: 5) has argued that memories of past abuse that are dissociated "can be processed into rage...when triggered by the appropriate stimuli". Whilst the underlying psychic mechanisms of trauma and violence are becoming better understood, there remains a need to acknowledge both the influence of gender, particularly masculinity, upon this association (Walsh, 2020) and traumatic abuse which can lead to forms of future violence. Numerous research studies indicate overwhelmingly that violence, particularly persistent and more harmful violence, is largely the preserve of males (Currie, 2016;Ellis, 2016;Winlow, 2014).…”

Understanding Models of Support for People Facing Multiple Disadvantage: A Literature Review

“…Women have been found to be at higher risk of clinical disorders such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, self-harm, eating disorders and emotionally unstable personality disor der, whereas men have been found to be at greater risk of behavioural difficulties , cognitive misinterpretations of risk, and increased aggression (DHSC, 2018; Wilton and Williams, 2019; Mental Health Foundation, 2017). These gendered responses to trauma are understood within the wider context of men's lives and the role of hegemonic masculinity (Walsh, 2020). For women who experience multiple disadvantage, trauma (such as violent trauma) can be a trigger into offending, substance use and/or homelessness, experiences which in turn cause further trauma which again is differentiated along gendered lines.…”